Duration of home monitoring for infants discharged with apnea of prematurity

Sixty-four preterm infants with apnea of prematurity (AOP) discharged with cardiorespiratory home monitoring (HM) were prospectively followed. For each monitor alarm the parents recorded the occurrence of apnea, bradycardia or color change, and the type of assistance provided. The mean gestational age at birth was 28.8 (26-34) weeks, and the mean birth weight was 1,180 (730-2,390)g. The parents of 61/64 infants (95%) reported a total of 185 true AOPs with a mean of 3 (1-12) events/infant. The mean postconceptional age (PCA) at the last apnea was 41.0 (37-44) weeks. In 80%, AOP terminated between 40 and 44 weeks PCA. There was no correlation between the degree of prematurity and the PCA of the last apnea. We conclude that in preterm infants with AOP discharged with HM, HM may be discontinued at 45 weeks PCA. Copyright (C) 2000S. Karger AG, Basel.